Portfolio

Earth Cycles

Background

"Visual Earth: Milankovitch Cycles" was the second 3D interactive visualization in our series for teaching and learning about Earth, for which we collaborated with Prof. Taylor Perron and other geologists from the MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). This application allows users to explore how the cycles of Earth's orbital eccentricity and axial precession and tilt affect insolation, seasonal changes, and climate. "Visual Earth: Milankovitch Cycles" was incorporated in the curriculum on climate within EAPS’s signature class 12.001 "Introduction to Geology" and is also available online.

Visualizations

We built the interactive modules in Unity (interface snapshot below), using graphic assets we created in Maya (3D models), Illustrator (vector maps, interface elements), and Photoshop (texture maps).

Unity3D development by Brian Deans-Rowe
Artwork and interface design by Betsy Skrip
Produced and directed by Violeta Ivanova

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.